Steam-dry iron

ABSTRACT

A steam-dry iron which may be selectively operated to (1) produce steam at a predetermined normal rate; (2) operated to produce a momentary pulse of steam at a rate greater than such normal rate, or (3) operated as a dry iron with no steam being produced.

United States Patent Knapp [451 Nov. 28, 1972 I54] STEAM-DRY IRON 3,165,843 1/1965 Willman ..38/77.83 [72 J Inventor: Robert Knapp-2 St Louis, M 3,407,522 10/1968 Jepson eta] ..3s/77.s3 [731 Assignee: The Hoever Company, North Cana Examiner patrick D Lawson Ohm Attamey-Alfred G. Gross and Gerald 11. Kreske 22] Filed: Jan. 6, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 104,252 [571 ABSTRACT A steam-dry iron which may be selectively operated to 521 US. Cl ..3s/77.s3 (1) Pwduce steam at a predetermined are; [51] Int. Cl. ..D06f 75/06 (2) operated to Produce a momentary p of steam 58 Field of Search ..38/77.83, 77.5, 77.8 at a rate greater than such normal rate, or

' operated as a dry iron with no steam being produced. [5 6] References Cited ll Clainn, 8 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1957 Vere-Mega PATENTEDHUW sum 1 [IF 2 '3. 703. 777

FIG.

STEAM-DRY IRON The present invention relates to steam irons and a principal object of the invention isto provide new and improved devices of the character described.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY I Steam irons of the type which include a water supply tank enclosed within the iron shell and a valve selectively operable to control flow of water from the tank to a flash steam boiler formed within the iron soleplate are well known in the .art. Also known in the art are steam irons containing a pump which may be selective- Iy operated to inject a'charge of water into the boiler to provide a momentary pulse of steam.

The few attempts to combine the above structures to provide a single iron which may be used as a dry iron, as a continuous steaming iron, or as a steam iron which can selectively discharge a momentary but large pulse of steam have been unduly complex and expensive to manufacture. For at least these reasons, such highly flexible and useful irons have not heretofore achieved marked commercial success;

. The present invention provides an iron whichmay not only be selectively operated in either a continuous steaming mode or in a non-steaming mode, but which may also be operated to produce at will a momentary, large pulse of steam. This is accomplished by exceedingly simple means performing dual functions to obviate proliferation of parts with attendant high manufacturing costs. Indeed, the present invention may be manufactured atlittle increase in cost over a conventional steamdry iron.

The foregoing and other advantages of the present invention will readily become apparent from a study of the following description and from the appended drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown for purpose of illustration.

DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an iron embodying the present invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view generally corresponding to line 2-2 of FIG. I and illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of certain details seen in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view generally corresponding to the line 4-4 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the details seen in FIG. 3,

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views similar to FIG. 2 but showing certain parts in other positions, and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, still more fragmentary view, similar to FIG. 2, but of another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, there is shown an electrically heated, steam-dry iron having the usual soleplate 10, a cover shell 12, and a manipulating handle 14. Any convenient means (not shown), usually one or more fastening screws, may retain the soleplate, the shell and the handle together. A control knob may operate a conventional thermostatic switch (not shown) within the cover shell for controlling energization of the iron. Disposed within the cover shell 12 and adjacent the soleplate is a tank or reservoir 16 adapted to contain a supply of water which is to be vaporized to form steam.

j The soleplate 10 may be of the usual type, normally being formed of cast aluminum in which is embedded the usual metallic sheathed, electric resistance heating element 18. Formed in the soleplate is a recess or pocket 20 which constitutes a steam generating chamber as will later appear and also formed in the soleplateare one or more passages 22 in communication with the steam generating chamber 20. At suitable intervals, steam exhaust openings 24 are formed in the soleplate and lead from its underside to the passages 22.

For simplicity of manufacture, the chamber 20 and the passages 22 are usually cast into the upper surface of the soleplate and, at a later stage of manufacture, a cover plate 26 is afi'ixed to the top of the soleplate to form a top wall for the chamber and the passages.

In any event and assuming the soleplate has been heated sufficiently by energization of the element 18, water entering the chamber 20 by means later to appear will immediately be flashed into steam. Such steam will spread along the passages 22 and escape through the various openings 24 to penetrate the material being ironed.

Although not shown, since it forms no part of the present invention, energization of the element 18 and thus the temperature of the soleplate 10 may be controlled by a suitable thermostat such as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,724,198, issued to J. E. Vance on an ap plication filed Dec. 24, 1952, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant case. Such thermostat may be adjusted as required by the previously mentioned control knob 15. I I

Suitably secured in an opening in the lower wall 28 of the water reservoir 16 is a fitting 30 having a main body portion 32 and a depending shank portion 34. As herein illustrated, the upper part of the main body portion 32 of the fitting is turned radially outwardly at 36 to effect a permanent, leak-proof connection between the fitting and the reservoir. The main body portion 32 of the fitting is adapted to rest upon the soleplate cover plate 26 thus forming a spacer between such cover.

plate and the reservoir while the fitting shank portion 34 closely fits within an opening formed in the cover plate 26 above the steam generating chamber 20. An 0 ring 38 of flexible, heat-resistant material is disposed in a groove in the shank portion 34 to form a water-tight seal between the fitting 30 and the cover plate 26.

Structurally integrated with the fitting 30 is an upstanding sleeve 40 presently formed of a suitable plastic. As will later appear, sleeve 40 forms an upright cylinder and may be assembled with the fitting by means of a press-fit within an upwardly directed recess 42 in the fitting. Alternatively, part of the fitting adjacent the mouth of recess 42 may be upset radially inwardly into an annular groove 44 formed in the periphery of the sleeve 40. An orifice 46, later to be discussed in greater detail, is formed in the fitting 30 and establishes communication between the steam generating chamber 20 and the interior of the sleeve 40.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the portion of sleeve 40 projecting above fitting 30 is transversely apertured by opposed slots 48 which extend from the upper sleeve end to the top of the fitting. The lower ends of slots 48 are thus at substantially the level of the reservoir lower wall 28 for an important reason to appear.

Vertically slidable in the interior of the sleeve, or cylinder 40, is a piston 50 to which is secured an upstanding piston rod 52. To provide a substantially fluidtight seal between the cylinder and the piston, the latter may have an annular groove in which a resilient O ring 54 is seated. Piston rod 52 projects upwardly through an enlarged bore 56 formed in a forward support leg 58 of the handle and into an upwardly facing recess 60 formed in the forward portion of the handle. Forward support leg 58 of the handle is shouldered to seat upon the cover shell 12 and has a lower portion 62 projecting downwardly into the reservoir 16 through an opening in its upper wall. A gasket 64 preferably forms a watertight seal between the handle forward leg and the reservoir. A forward extension 66 of the bore 56 is formed in the handle forward leg 58 to permit filling of the reservoir with water.

Still referring to FIG. 2 but also referring to FIG. 4, a cover plate 68 overlies the handle recess 60, being suitably secured in position as by a screw 70. Projecting upwardly through an aperture in the cover plate 68 is a button 72 having opposed, outwardly extending shoulders 74 (see FIG. 4) engageable beneath the cover plate 68 to limit upper projection of the button.

The previously mentioned piston rod 52 has its upper end bottomed in an enlarged recess 76 in the underside of the button 72 and a coil spring 78 encircles the piston rod and is interposed between the handle and a shoulder formed by a snap ring 80 secured to the piston rod to bias the latter and thus its attached piston and the button 72 toward the position of parts seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. For a purpose to appear, button 72 provides a rearwardly directed, upwardly facing shoulder 82.

Assuming that the iron thus far described is in its normal, horizontal operating position seen in FIG. 2, that the reservoir 16 is filled with water and that the iron is at proper operating temperature, continuous steaming operation will be as follows:

Since the piston 50, or at least the sealing ring 54 thereof, is positioned above the lower ends of slots 48 of the sleeve 40 (see also FIG. 3), water within the reservoir will flow into the sleeve beneath the piston to fill the sleeve. Water will drip into the steam generating chamber through the orifice 46 in the fitting where it will be flashed into steam which will be discharged through the steam exhaust openings 24 in the iron soleplate. It is to be understood that in this mode of continuous steaming operation, water can flow into the sleeve 40 through the slots 48 at a rate in excess of that through which it can gravitate through the orifice 46; accordingly, the rate of continuous steaming is solely a function of the size and shape of the orifice.

If, while the reservoir is filled with water, it is desired to utilize the iron without steaming, steam production can be instantly interrupted by pressing down on the button 72 sufficiently that its shoulder 82 is beneath the top wall of the cover plate 68. The button may then be tilted or rocked slightly to the rear to engage the button shoulder 82 beneath the adjacent top wall of the cover plate, as seen in FIG. 6, to retain the button in such position against the upward force exerted by the spring 78.

With the button 72 positioned as above described and as illustrated in FIG. 6, piston 50 will have been lowered sufficiently that its seal 54 will be beneath the lower ends of the sleeve slots 48 to interrupt flow of water therethrough from the reservoir to the interior of the sleeve beneath the piston. With water flow into the sleeve thus interrupted, water cannot gravitate from the sleeve through the orifice 46 into the steam generating chamber 20 and therefore steam generation will terminate even though water is trapped within the sleeve beneath the piston.

If button 72 is pressed down from the position seen in FIG. 6 to the position seen in FIG. 7, water trapped beneath the piston 50 will be forceably expelled through the orifice 46 into the steam generating chamber. The rapid influx of a relatively large quantity of water into the steam chamber will result in the momentary generation of a large quantity of steam which will, of course, be pulsed from the soleplate steam exhaust openings 24.

It is to be understood that the quantity of steam generated as above described will be at a rate considerably in excess of that generated during normal steaming as disclosed in connection with FIG. 2; however, such steam generation will be but momentary since when the sleeve 40 is emptied of water, no further steam will be generated by the iron. After the button 72 is pressed down to the position seen in FIG. 7, it may be returned to either the dry ironing position seen in FIG. 6, or the normal steaming position seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Assuming the button 72 has been allowed to return to the position of FIG. 6, the iron will function as a dry iron since water flow into the sleeve 40 from the reservoir 16 is interrupted as previously described. On the other hand, if the button 72 is returned to the position of FIGS. 2 and 3, water will flow from the reservoir 16 into the sleeve 40 through the slots 48 and thence gravitate through the fitting orifice 46 into the steam generating chamber 20 to once again provide for steam generation at a normal rate.

During normal steam generation, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a momentary large pulse of steam may be provided, if desired, by momentarily depressing the button 72 to the position of FIG. 7 and then allowing it to return to the position of FIG. 2.

In the embodiment of the invention seen in FIG. 8 wherein corresponding parts are identified by the same reference characters as before but with the suffix a added, it will be noted that the previously disclosed sleeve 40 has been omitted and the fitting 30a has been vertically elongated as compared to fitting 30.

The lower portion of fitting 30a is provided with a bore 84 of a size to closely but slidably receive the piston 50a in sealing relation while the upper portion of the fitting is provided with a larger bore 86 to loosely receive the piston.

Piston 50a is shown in FIG. 8 to be in its uppermost position which corresponds to the position of piston 50 in FIGS. 2 and 3. When thus positioned, water may flow from the reservoir 16a into the lower portion of the fitting beneath the piston 50a by virtue of the loose fit between the piston and the upper fitting bore 86. Water will gravitate through the orifice 46a into the steam generating chamber a for continuous steam generation as previously described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3.

When it is desired to operate the embodiment of FIG. 8 as a dry iron, it is only necessary to lower the piston 50a by its control button, not shown but similar to button 72,=to position where the piston seal 54a is seatedin the bore 84 thus'interrupting communication between the reservoir and the interior of the fitting.

When a momentary large pulse of steam is desired, the piston 50a will be momentarily moved downwardly in the bore 84 to rapidly expel water trapped beneath the piston through the orifice 46a into the chamber 200 all in a manner similar tothat disclosed in connection with FIG. 6. v

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described, hence it will be appreciated-that the hereindisclosed embodiments areillustrative only and that my invention is not limited thereto.

Iclaim:

1. In a steam-dry iron having an electrically heated soleplate and a water reservoir above said soleplate, such soleplate having a steam generating chamber as well as openings in its underside in communication with said chamber through which steam mayescape, the improvement comprising a pump cylinder having an upper portion in communication with said reservoir and a lower portion in communication with said steam generating chamber through an orifice, piston slidable within said cylinder and shiftable between an upper position relative to the latter wherein communication between said reservoir and said orifice through said cylinder is established and a lower positionrelative to he latter wherein communication between said reservoir and said orifice through said cylinder is interrupted, and means for selectively shifting said piston relative to said cylinder and for selectively maintaining said piston in the positions aforesaid, said means selectively maintaining said piston in its upper position aforesaid to provide for flow of water from said reservoir into said cylinder and consequent gravitation of water through said orifice and into said steam generating chamber to effect continuous steaming at a predetennined normal rate, said means selectively maintaining said piston in its lower position aforesaid to prevent flow of water from said reservoir and through said cylinder to said orifice thereby preventing gravitation of water through the latter and into said steam generating chamber, and said means being selectively operable to momentarily lower said piston below its lower position aforesaid to force water within said cylinder through said orifice and into said steam generating chamber to provide for momentary generation of steam at a greater than normal rate. 2. The construction of claim 1 wherein the flow of 5 water from said cylinder into said steam generating chamber is restricted by said orifice to a greater degree than is the flow of water from said reservoir into said cylinder when said piston is in its upper position aforesaid whereby said orifice along establishes said normal predetermined rate of continuous steaming.

3. The construction of claim 1 wherein the lower portion of said cylinder is so constructed for cooperation with said piston that water flow from said reservoir into said cylinder beneath said piston will be substantially prevented,

wherein the upper portion of said cylinder is so constructed for cooperation with said piston that water flow from said reservoir into said cylinder beneath said piston will be provided,

and wherein said piston is cooperable with the upper portion of said cylinder in said piston upper position and is cooperable with the lower portion of said cylinder in said piston lower position.

4. The construction of claim 3 wherein the cylinder bore at its upper portion is larger in transverse size than the cylinder bore at its lower portion.

5. The construction of claim 1 wherein said reservoir has a bottom wall,

wherein said cylinder projects above said bottom wall,

wherein said cylinder has transversely extending aperturemeans through which. water may flow from said reservoir into said cylinder beneath said piston when the latter is in .its upper position aforesaid,

and wherein the restrictive effect of said aperture means toflow of water therethrough is less than that of said orifice whereby the latter along establishes said normal, predetermined rate of continuous steaming.

6. The construction of claim 5 wherein said aperture means has a greater effective size than that of said orifice.

7. The construction of claim 1 wherein said reservoir has a bottom wall,

wherein said cylinder projects above said reservoir wall,

and wherein said cylinder has a transversely extending aperture at substantially the level of said reservoir wall to provide for gravitation of substantially all water within said reservoir into said cylinder.

8. The construction of claim 7 wherein said piston, in the aforesaid upper position thereof, exposes saidaperture to provide for gravitation of water from said reservoir to the interior of said cylinder beneath said piston,

and wherein said piston, in the aforesaid lower position thereof, closes said aperture to prevent gravitation of water from said reservoir to the in terior of said cylinder beneath said piston.

9. The construction of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively shifting said piston comprises resilient means and an operator-actuated control member,

wherein said resilient means yieldably biases said piston toward its upper position aforesaid,

l 1. The construction of claim 10 wherein said piston has a piston rod projecting upwardly toward said handle,

wherein said control member comprises a button vertically slidable in said handle,

wherein said piston rod is yieldably biased upwardly to engagement with said button,

and wherein said button is provided with vertically shaped shoulders engageable with said handle for locating said button in predetermined positions corresponding to said piston upper and lower positions aforesaid.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f v CERTIFICATE 0F- CORRECTION Patent No. Deted November 97 Robert S. Kriapp In ventor( s) v vIt is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

001m 5', line he; "he" should be the 00111111116, lines 9 and #0, "along" should be alone signed and sealed .chis 2%11 day of April 1973;

(SEAL) Attestr ijDl/JARD M. FLETCHER, JR.- ROBERT 'GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-1050 [10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 i: u.sv GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I969 0-366-334 

1. In a steam-dry iron having an electrically heated soleplate and a water reservoir above said soleplate, such soleplate having a steam generating chamber as well as openings in its underside in communication with said chamber through which steam may escape, the improvement comprising a pump cylinder having an upper portion in communication with said reservoir and a lower portion in communication with said steam generating chamber through an orifice, a piston slidable within said cylinder and shiftable between an upper position relative to the latter wherein communication between said reservoir and said orifice through said cylinder is established and a lower position relative to he latter wherein communication between said reservoir and said orifice through said cylinder is interrupted, and means for selectively shifting said piston relative to said cylinder and for selectively maintaining said piston in the positions aforesaid, said means selectively maintaining said piston in its upper position aforesaid to provide for flow of water from said reservoir into said cylinder and consequent gravitation of water through said orifice and into said steam generating chamber to effect continuous steaming at a predetermined normal rate, said means selectively maintaining said piston in its lower position aforesaid to prevent flow of water from said reservoir and through said cylinder to said orifice thereby preventing gravitation of water through the latter and into said steam generating chamber, and said means being selectively operable to momentarily lower said piston below its lower position aforesaid to force water within said cylinder through said orifice and into said steam generating chamber to provide for momentary generation of steam at a greater than normal rate.
 2. The construction of claim 1 wherein the flow of water from said cylinder into said steam generating chamber is restricted by said orifice to a greater degree than is the flow of water from said reservoir into said cylinder when said piston is in its upper position aforesaid whereby said orifice along establishes said normal predetermined rate of continuous steaming.
 3. The construction of claim 1 wherein the lower portion of said cylinder is so constructed for cooperation with said piston that water flow from said reservoir into said cylinder beneath said piston will be substantially prevented, wherein the upper portion of said cylinder is so constructed for cooperation with said piston that water flow from said reservoir into said cylinder beneath said piston will be provided, and wherein said piston is cooperable with the upper portion of said cylinder in said piston upper position and is cooperable with the lower portion of said cylinder in said piston lower position.
 4. The construction of claim 3 wherein the cylinder bore at its upper portion is larger in transverse size than the cylinder bore at its lower portion.
 5. The construction of claim 1 wherein said reservoir has a bottom wall, wherein said cylinder projects above said bottom wall, wherein said cylinder has transversely extending aperture means through which water may flow from said reservoir into said cylinder beneath said piston when the latter is in its upper position aforesaid, and wherein the restrictive effect of said aperture means to flow of water therethrough is less than that of said orifice whereby the latter along establishes said normal, predetermined rate of continuous steaming.
 6. The construction of claim 5 wherein said aperture means has a greater effective size than that of said orifice.
 7. The construction of claim 1 wherein said reservoir has a bottom wall, wherein said cylinder projects above said reservoir wall, and wherein said cylinder has a transversely extending aperture at substantially the level of said reservoir wall to provide for gravitation of substantially all water within said reservoir into said cylinder.
 8. The construction of claim 7 wherein said piston, in the aforesaid upper position thereof, exposes said aperture to provide for gravitation of water from said reservoir to the interior of said cylinder beneath said piston, and wherein said piston, in the aforesaid lower position thereof, closes said aperture to prevent gravitation of water from said reservoir to the interior of said cylinder beneath said piston.
 9. The construction of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively shifting said piston comprises resilient means and an operator-actuated control member, wherein said resilient means yieldably biases said piston toward its upper position aforesaid, and wherein said control member is movable with said piston and has predetermined positions corresponding to said piston upper and lower positions aforeSaid.
 10. The construction of claim 9 wherein said iron further comprises a handle secured to said soleplate with said reservoir interposed therebetween, wherein said control member is shiftably carried by said handle, and wherein said handle and said control member have abutments interengageable to locate said control member in its predetermined positions aforesaid.
 11. The construction of claim 10 wherein said piston has a piston rod projecting upwardly toward said handle, wherein said control member comprises a button vertically slidable in said handle, wherein said piston rod is yieldably biased upwardly to engagement with said button, and wherein said button is provided with vertically shaped shoulders engageable with said handle for locating said button in predetermined positions corresponding to said piston upper and lower positions aforesaid. 